F O C U S

Introduction of Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) as Pentavalent

(DPT-HepB-Hib) Vaccine in Two States of India
SATISH KUMAR GUPTA, *STEPHEN SOSLER AND *CHANDRAKANT LAHARIYA
From United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Country Office, New Delhi, India and
*World Health Organization (WHO), Country Polio Surveillance Project, New Delhi, India.
Correspondence to: Dr Satish Kumar Gupta, Health Specialist, UNICEF, 73 Lodi Estate, New Delhi, India. sgupta@unicef.org

aemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

bacterium was estimated to have caused 8.1
million cases of serious Hib diseases, and
371,000 deaths globally in the year 2000 [1]. In
India, an annual estimated 2.4 to 3.0 million cases and
72,000 deaths in under-5 children were attributed to Hib
diseases [1, 2]. Safe and effective vaccines to prevent Hib
diseases have been available for nearly two decades and
are being used globally. The National Technical Advisory
Group on Immunization (NTAGI) in India recommended
the introduction of Hib vaccine in the Universal
Immunization Program (UIP) in 2008 [2]. From December
2011, Hib vaccine in combination with diphtheria,
pertussis, tetanus and hepatitis B has been introduced in
UIP in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. A comprehensive
technical review on Hib diseases and vaccines was
published in 2009 in this journal [2]. This paper provides
an update on global Hib vaccine use, and reviews the
process and steps undertaken in India to introduce Hibcontaining pentavalent vaccine in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

combined with other antigens such as DPT and/or

hepatitis B antigens. Hib vaccines have been shown to
be cost-effective in both developed and developing
country contexts and are in use for more than two
decades. The World Health Organization (WHO)
recommends that Hib vaccines be included in routine
infant immunization programs of all countries [7]. By June
2011, Hib vaccine, in various formulations, was included
in the national immunization program of 170 countries in
all regions of the world [8].
Hib vaccination also reduces nasopharyngeal
colonization with the bacterium, resulting in further
reductions of Hib disease incidence. In addition to the
effects directly attributed to the vaccine, there are
important indirect effects associated with Hib vaccines.
Indirect benefits include herd immunity and reductions in
antibiotic resistance by preventing disease and
inappropriate use of antibiotics. These benefits have
been amply demonstrated by the post-introduction
studies where near elimination levels of Hib disease have
been reached; near-elimination of the disease occurred in
both industrialized and developing countries, even
countries with moderate to low immunization coverage
rates [9-12].

HIB DISEASES
It is estimated that mortality due to Hib disease
contributes 4% of all annual under-5 deaths in India [1, 3,
4]. The fastidious nature of the Hib bacterium and poor
laboratory infrastructure in developing country settings
such as India makes the diagnosis of Hib diseases and
calculation of disease burden extremely difficult.
Moreover, a combination of limited access to health
services and poor health-seeking behavior by rural
populations results in many affected children never
having the opportunity of being correctly diagnosed or
receiving appropriate care [5]. Even for those children
who do reach health facilities, the increasing prevalence
of antibiotic-resistance makes treatment difficult [6, 7].

Decision-making
In April 2008, the NTAGI Sub-committee on Hib vaccine
reviewed available literature and information related to
disease burden in India, vaccine availability, safety and
efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. Based on this
information, the Sub-committee recommended that Hibcontaining pentavalent vaccine should be introduced in
the country [2,3]. In a subsequent NTAGI meeting held in
June 2008, the Sub-committee recommendations were
discussed. Based on the cumulative weight of supporting
evidence, the Sub-committees recommendation to
introduce Hib-containing pentavalent vaccine was
endorsed [3]. Importantly, the Indian Academy of

HIB VACCINES AND THEIR INTRODUCTION

Hib vaccines are available in liquid and lyophilized
formulations and presented in monovalent format or
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INTRODUCTION OF HIB VACCINE

Pediatrics (IAP) had already recommended in 2006 the use

of Hib vaccine for all children [13]. The use of Hib
vaccines in the private sector is widespread in India for
almost a decade. Following the recommendation of
NTAGI, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoHFW), Government of India (GoI), decided to
introduce the vaccine initially in two states.

developed and provided to Kerala and Tamil Nadu states

for wider dissemination, several months prior to the
initiation of LPV use. State immunization program
managers were sensitized on the strategies and principles
of LPV introduction during a National level UIP review
meeting held in May 2011 in New Delhi. In addition, LPV
introduction training materials were produced for medical
officers and health workers.

STRATEGY FOR VACCINE INTRODUCTION

Training and sensitization within states then followed

a cascade format. State level orientations and training
workshops were held and attended by district
immunization officers, medical college faculty and other
stakeholders. District authorities, program managers, and
PHC-block medical officers were sensitized. In turn, block
medical officers trained frontline health workers on key
aspects related to LPV and its introduction.
Representatives of professional associations, such as
IAP Indian Medical Association (IMA), and other
stakeholders were also sensitized at various levels.

Government of India has introduced Hib as liquid

pentavalent vaccine (LPV) combined with DPT and HepB
in 10-dose presentation. The use of combination
formulation has certain clear programmatic advantages.
First, the number of injections per completed schedule
will be less, consequently requiring fewer syringes and
generating less potentially hazardous sharps waste. In
addition, cold chain space will be saved as a single vial of
LPV replaces DPT and Hep B vials. LPV has been
recommended for all infants and will be given in a 3-dose
schedule. The first dose is given at 6 weeks of age or older
followed by dose 2 after a gap of at least 4 weeks and a
gap of at least 4 weeks before dose 3 (Table I). The
vaccine is offered to all children younger than 1 year of
age and the booster dose is not recommended in UIP in
India [2, 14].

In synergy with trainings, information, education and

communication (IEC) material including frequently asked
questions, were prepared in local languages and widely
disseminated. A media-sensitization workshop on Hib
diseases and vaccination was conducted in each state
just prior to LPV introduction. The program was launched
by the State Ministers of Health and other senior health
department officials in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

To facilitate and ease program implementation,

Government of India policy states that LPV will be given
to a progressive birth cohort whereby all children who
present for their first dose of DPT (DPT 1) will be provided
their first dose of LPV (LPV 1). Infants who had already
initiated their schedule of DTP + HepB will complete the
DPT and HepB vaccines schedule. In addition,
monovalent Hepatitis B vaccine will continue to be
used for birth-dose and DPT vaccines will continue to be
used for 16-24 months and 5-6 years of age booster doses
[2, 14].

CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITY
Lessons from the introduction of Hepatitis B vaccine in 10
states of India in 2007-08 illustrated the immunization
system strengthening opportunities that introducing a
new vaccine affords. Likewise, the introduction of LPV
has been used to strengthen Kerala and Tamil Nadu
immunization systems by training/re-training health
personnel on proper injection techniques, assessing and
correcting existing cold chain problems, improving
program monitoring and supervision, and enhancing
reporting of adverse events following immunization. In
addition, pre-introduction training phase emphasized the

PREPARING FOR VACCINE INTRODUCTION

The operational guidelines and frequently asked
questions for the introduction of LPV in UIP were

TABLE I IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE FOLLOWING PENTAVALENT VACCINE INTRODUCTION

Age

Current schedule

After introduction of Pentavalent vaccine

At Birth

BCG, OPV-0, HepB-Birth dose

BCG, OPV-0, HepB-Birth dose

6 weeks

OPV-1, DPT-1, HepB1

OPV-1, Pentavalent-1

10 weeks

OPV-2, DPT-2, HepB2

OPV-2, Pentavalent-2

14 weeks

OPV-3, DPT-3, HepB3

OPV-3, Pentavalent -3

16-24 months

DPT-B1, MCV2, OPV-B1

DPT-B1, MCV2, OPV-B1

5-6 year

DPT-B2

DPT-B2

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REFERENCES
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13. IAP guide book on immunization , IAP Committee on
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FIG. 1 Countries which have introduced Hib vaccine in the

National Immunization Program.

importance of maintaining sufficient stocks of monovalent Hepatitis B and DPT vaccines to ensure the
application of birth-dose and DPT booster (at 16-24
months and 5-6 years of age).
Moreover, the introduction of Hib-containing
pentavalent vaccine offers poorer families the
opportunity to provide the same life-saving protection to
their children as wealthier families who can afford vaccine
services in the private sector. Therefore, the introduction
of Hib vaccine, free of cost in the government system,
helps to ensure equity in health service availability a
stated objective of Indias National Health Policy [15].
From a public health perspective, this is not a trivial
issue: Hib is one of the leading cause of bacterial
meningitis in India and a major cause of childhood
pneumonia, the largest killer of Indian children less than 5
years of age. It is estimated that Hib disease prevention
through vaccine use has the potential to reduce Indias
under-5 mortality rate by 4 percentage points. The
introduction of LPV in India is a major milestone and a
step forward to accelerate child survival in India, and
progress towards achieving national health goals and
Millennium Development Goal 4.
Competing interests: None stated.
Disclaimer: The view expressed in this paper are those of the
authors and should not be attributed to the UNICEF and WHO.

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